KUALA LUMPUR (July 2): Construction of the 415km Sabah-Sarawak Link Road project beginning next year will not affect Phase 2 of the Pan-Borneo Highway along similar route, says Works Minister Baru Bian.

The Link Road will be a boon to the tourism industry in the rural areas along three Sarawakian cities: Miri, Limbang and Lawas, he said.

In comparison, Phase 2 of the Pan-Borneo Highway sits on the coast and goes through neighbouring Brunei.

"It will not affect Phase 2 [of the Pan-Borneo Highway]... Maybe a slight delay, but it is just a matter of timing.

"But there is a connecting road along Phase 2 [of Pan-Borneo Highway which] we are upgrading into the highway.

"We [should also] give priority to Sabah-Sarawak Link Road, which will benefit 100,000 residents in rural Miri, Limbang and Lawas," added the minister.

Putrajaya approved the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road project in April this year, 13 years after its feasibility study was conducted in 2006.

Construction for the 415km road which bypasses Brunei is expected to commence in 1Q20, with an expected cost of RM5.35 billion.

As at Jan 26, the Sarawak portion of the Pan-Borneo Highway was 35% complete. Phase 2 from Miri to Lawas is expected to commence next year in the earliest, Baru has previously said.